Lubricator



I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

' -J. POWELL.

LUBRIGATOR- No. '3f/2,764.

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2 sheets-sheen 2. J POWELL. LUBRIGATOR.

' (No Modem `Patented Nov. 8, 1887.

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UNITED STATES i ATENT rricno JAMES POWELL, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

LUBRICATOR.

SPECIFICATEON forming part of Letters Patent No;372,764, dated November 8, 1887. Application filed August 3, 1886,. Serial No. 200.841. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern." Y

13e it known that I, JAMEs POWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at'Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lubricators, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to those lubricators which are constructed in such a manner as to compel the feed or discharging oil to ascend in small globules through a column of condensed water that collects in vwhat is commonly known as the sight-chamber, and the first part of my improvements consists in adapting a tubular standard of the device to serve both as the pipe that conveys steam to the condenser and to act as the channel through which oil escapes from the top of the sightchamber and is then conducted to the engine, said hollow standard being wholly external with reference to the sight-feed chamber and oil-reservoir, 'as hereinafter more fully described. p

The second part of my improvements consists in providing this standard with an internal ledge or barrier, that compels the water which flows down the interior ofthe condensing-tube to be deliectedfrom a direct path and to be discharged into the upper end of the sight-chamber. By this arrangement the surplus condensed water formed within said tube is prevented from running immediately into the channel of the standard, and the sightchamber is kept constantly full of such water, as hereinafter' more fully described,

The third part of my improvements consists in providing the lubricator with a channel whose delivery end is higher than the end that communicates with the sight-chamber, or is furnished with a curb or dam at thevoutlet of said channel, to insure the positive and rapid filling of the sight-chamber with water, and at the same time allows the oil collected within said chamber to discharge freelyinto the standard as the oil passes on its way to the engine, as hereinafter more fully described.

The fourth part of my improvements consists in providing the condenser with a downward prolongation or extension that enters a counterbore of the standard neck or other supporting member, and thus forms a water-trap that prevents oil escaping from the reservoir and floating up into said condenser, as hereinafter more fully described.

The fth part of my improvements consists in providing the lubricator with a pendent leg having a channel that communicates at top With the oil-reservoir, while the lower end of said channel has a lateral branch leading to thedischarge-nozzle at the base of the sight chamber,asuitable cock or valvebeing applied ing the ascending feed, as hereinafter more fully described.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved lubricator, the upper portion of the condensing-chamber being sectioned. Fig. 2 is a sectionized side elevation of the device. Fig. 3 is a plan of the same, the condenser and filling-plug being detached. Fig. 4 is an enlarged axial section of the standard neck and its connections, said section being taken at the line X X of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is another section of said neck at the line Y Y. Fig. 6 is another section thereof, taken at the line Z Z. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section through the lower portion of the inclined channel at the upper end of the sightchamber. Fig. 8 is an enlarged axial section through the base of said chamber. Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the tubular leg and a portion of its sockets. Fig. 10 shows a modification of .the invention. Figgll is an enlarged horizontal section through the three channels of the arms of the lubricator. Fig. l2 is an enlarged vertical section of a moditied'form of the water-trap of the condenser.

Referring to Fig. 2, A representsv the base or attaching member of my lubricator, which base is provided with a screw, A', a square or hexagon, A, and an axial channel, a, the latter being controlled by a throttlevalve, b, at the inner end of stem B, the outer extremity thereof having a hand-wheel, b', seen only in Fig. 1. Furthermore, this base has another channel, a', that communicates with the passage a when said throttle-valve is opened.

Base A is screwed or otherwise readily coupled to the main standard O, that supports the entire lubricator, said standard having at top a pair of arms, D D', that preferably project in opposite directions, although this arrangement need not be rigidly adhered to.

'either to this channel or branch for regulat- Arm D is slotted vertically at d', to permit a free passage of air, and thus prevent the oilreservoirE becoming too highly heated. This reservoir depends from the outer end of said arm, and has at top a removable fillingplug, c, and at bottom a drain-cock. e', but the interior of said reservoir is entirely free from pipes or connections of any kind. Depending from the outer end of the other arm,D,is a leg, F, having a vertical channel, G, closed at top and bottom by sciewplugsgg. Projecting laterally from the upper portion of this channel is a branch passage, G, having its outer end soldered up at y, said passage G being intercepted by a channel, G, that runs horizontally through thc arms D D', and then opens directly into the upper portion of the oil-reservoir E, as more clearly seen in Figs.

G and 1l.

The lower portion ot' channel G has a lateral branch, h, controlled by a regulating-valve, li', which latter determines the tiow of oil up the discharge-nozzle H, said nozzle being either east with or attached to the lower one, f', of a pairof tubularsockets or keepers, ff. These sockets are preferably integral with the leg F, and are screwthreadcd atf, as seen in Fig. 9, to receive glands i i', that compress packings against the glass tube or sight-chamber I, and thus prevent the escape of water from said tube. Furthermore, the upper socket, f, has a plug, J', screwed into the same, the inner portion of' said plug consisting of a tubular slotted shank, j, that permits a free entrance of water into the chamber land an equally free escape of oil therefrom. Communicating with this upper socket, f, is a lateral port, k, leading into a somewhat enlarged channel, K, formed in the central portion of arm D, the floor or bottom of said channel being elevated toward its delivery end, where it joins the bore c of standard C, as more clearly shown in Fig. 5. Communicating with this inclined channel K is the condensing-tube L, that extends up almost to the top of the condensingchamber M, the latter being coupled to a neck, d, which separates the arms D D, and being preferably in vertical line with the tubular standard C c. Con(lensing-chamber M has at top a short nipple, m, covered by a scrcwthreaded cap, m', the unslaekening of which cap affords ventage to t-ho lubricator when it is first started; but thclowerend of said chamber has an extension or prolongation, It, of somewhat less length and diameter than a counterbore, S, ofthe neck d, as more clearly seen in Figs. el and l2. Communicating with the top of this counterbore is a side passage, a, leading into a channel, N, that extends horizontally along the arms D D', one end of said channel being closed by a screw-plug, a,while its opposite end opens into the upper portion of reservoir E. The channels N, G, andK of the arms D D must be separate and distinct from each other,as more clearly seen in Fi fr. 11.

O is an internal ledge or barrier of the standard C, said ledge being located under the condensingtube L and extending over so far into the channel K as to compel the water from said tube to be shed into said channel before ruiming down. the bore c of said standard.

P is a blowol'f cock for the sight-chamber,

which cock may be situated at the side Ot socketf, as seen in Fig. 1, or at the bottom oi' said socket, as represented in Fig. 8.

Tis a screw-plug at the exposed end ofchannel G.

The operation of my lubrieator is as follows: The base A is lirstscrcwcd either to the steampipe or steam-chest, and reservoir E is filled with oil in the usual manner, after which act cap m is slightly unscrewed, and throttlevalve Z1 is opened. This unscrewing ofsaid cap affords ventage for the escape of the ai r from the interior ofthe lubricator, which immediately ills with steam, and said cap is then screwed downfirmlyuponthenipple. llheinstantsteam is admitted suliicieut condensation takes place to fill the condenser, while the water running down the inside of tube Liuto the channel K, and thence through port 7c, insures the rapid filling of the sightvchamber with clear Water. The water from the condenser also flows down the side pipe, a, into the channel N, and thus obtains access to thc reservoir E, by which arrangement the oil in said reservoir is subjected to a pressure equal to the column of water contained in said condensingchamber M, which latter is always more or less full.

Consequently the oil has a tendencyto escape i from the reservoir; but no flow can take place therefrom until the regulating Valve la is opened. Then this valve is opened, oil escapes from the reservoir, flows along the horizontal channel Grl into the branch G', and is discharged from the latter into the Vertical channel G of the leg F. From the channel G the oil flows into the lower branch, h, and escapes through the nozzle H in the shape of small globules. These globules bubble up gradually through the water contained within the sight-chamber I, thus rendering the feed at all times perfectly clear and distinct to the engineer, and when the oil reaches the top of said chamber it llows through the lateral port 7s into the inclined channel K. The heavy broken lines in Fig. 5 indicate that the oil now collects on the somewhat extended surface of the watcrrin the bottom of said channel, and is finally discharged over the Curbed or dammed end U ofthe same, and immediately descends into the passage c of the standard C, as indicated by the arrow in said illustration; but this descent of oil within the tubularstamlard does not in the least interfere with the free upward passage of steam therein, which steam isconstantly condensing to a greater or less extent within the pipe L, and thus keeps the channel K at all times full of Water up to the level of its outlet or overflow U. Furthermore, this free and unobstructed ascent of IOO ' ward extension, R, of said condenser is submerged in the water collected in the counterbore S, as seen in Fig. 5. Consequently this body of water serves as a trap that cuts off all communication between the passage n and said extension R.

By simply opening the blowoff cock P the pressure of steam will expel the water from sightchamber I, which forcible ejection of water will carry off any scale or sediment that may have accumulated within said chamber, while the current of escaping steam s cours t-he inner sides of the glass'tube I, thus rendering the latter perfectly clear and transparent. As soon, however, as this cock is closed, the condensation occurring within the tube L speedily iills the sight-chamber and its connections, and the lubricator at once resumes its work. If the nozzle H should choke up, the regulating-valve h can be closed, the plug J be unsorewed, and a wire can then be passed down through said nozzle, so as to remove the obstructions. Similarly a wire can be passed through the channels G, G, and N after the appropriate screwplugs have been disengaged from their ends.

The above is a description of a lubricator in which symmetry of appearance has been obtained by placing the condenser M above the standard G and about midway between the rescrvoir E-and leg F; but in some cases it may be desirable or necessary to change this arrangement andlocate the condenser comparatively near this leg. Such a modification is .shown in Fig. 10, where the tube L enters the channel K at a point somewhat remote from the outlet or dammed end U of the latter. Consequently the ledge or barrier O (seen in the other illustrations) is not needed when this construction is adopted.

The above is a description of one modified form of my lubricator; but it is evident the details of construction may be greatly varied without departing from the leading features sage with an oilreservoir, which latter has near its top an oil-discharge duct communicating with the bottom of an ascending sightfeed chamber, the upper end of said chamber being provided with an outlet leading into a hollow standard and communicating with a condensing-tube, said standard being wholly external with reference to said oil-reservoir and sight-chamber, and serving the twofold purpose of admitting steam to said condenser and condensing-tube and of receiving the oil that ows from said reservoir, all said parts being combined substantially as herein described.

2. A steamengine lubricator having a ledge or defiector, O, below the discharging end of the condensing-tube L, whereby water is shed into an outlet channel, K, which channel leads from the top of the ascending sight-feed chamber to the hollow standard that supports the lubricator and receives the oil that flows from the reservoir, substantially as herein described.

3. A steam -engine lubricator having an outlet-channel, K, leading from the top of the ascending sight-feed chamber to a hollow standard that supports the lubricator, said channel being provided near its discharging end with a dam or barrier, as U, all said parts beingl combined for the purpose herein described.

4:. A steam-engine lubrcator provided with an elevated condenser, M, having a tubular extension, R, that enters a counterbore, S, of the member upon which said condenser is mounted, a channel, N, being arranged to communicate with the oil-reservoir E and the upper part of said counterbore, all said parts being combined for the purpose herein described. 1

5. A steam-engine lubricator provided with a pendent leg, F,.having a longitudinal channel, G, communicating at top with the discharge-duct G of the oil-reservoir E and at bottom with the ascending sight-feed chamber I, the upper portion of said leg being furnished with a port, 7s, leading into the main outlet K of said sight-chamber,all said parts being combined substantially as herein. described.

6. -A lubricator consisting of a condenser, an oil-reservoir, and an ascending sight-feed tube, which devices have channel-connections with the upper portion of a tubular standard, said standard being wholly external with reference to said reservoir andits lowerend serving the twofold purpose of admitting steam to the apparatus and allowing oil to discharge therefrom, all of said parts being combined to operate substantially as herein described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

" JAMES PO\VELL.

Vitnesses:

J AMEs H. LAYMAN, SMIL. S. CARPENTER.

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